Will Boston Celtics be strong contenders for NBA championship next season?
This prolonged stubbornness of NBA officials and team owners is not helping anyone. It has been 83 days and the NBA lockout still has not ended. Normally, the training camps start at this time but since that is not likely going
to happen any time soon because of the deadlock, let’s in the mean time discuss where the 17 times NBA champions Boston Celtics stand at the moment.
At the moment Celtics have only seven players under the contract Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Avery Bradley, Jermaine O'Neal and Jeff Green but there will be a lot of work for sure once the deadlock ends.
Celtics have enough free agents to fill them a roaster so they will be looking to add some continuity. Celtics will be keeping their eyes on the dead lock and will heat up when it ends.
Celtics are loaded with super stars but the problem they face is of the age factor. Their main players are not going to be there for very long and probably retire at the end of next season or so. So less games this season will
help them saving their mileage and in giving rest to their tiring legs.
Shortened season might be a blessing in disguise for the Celtics and they will have the best chance to grab the champion title for 18th time. In the last season, Celtics had the best record in the first half of the season
and they practically looked impossible to beat.
In 55 matches, they won 41 and lost only 14 but as the tournament progressed, the veteran’s energy level faded down affecting their performance and this became the prime reason for the Celtics second-round exit. In the semi finals
against Miami Heat, Celtics started wearing out. Their fitness diminished and by the end of third quarter looked as lethargic as a tortoise. Rajon Random looked helpless as his fellow team mates were crumbling with agony. And Celtics finally lost the match.
So, if the season is shortened to 40-50 games, I think, Celtics have the best shot at the championship or even if they don’t win it, they will still be amongst the strongest contenders. I know Fans love to see the full un-adulterated
season but give it a thought. Shortened season will not be any less exciting than the regular one and it will benefit all the team with aging players.
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